Mission and Services

The Flores v. Reno settlement agreement reached in 1997 established the first uniform standards for the care and treatment of immigrant and refugee minors in INS custody, now in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (“ORR”). Despite reaching a settlement agreement seven years ago, ICE and ORR continue to violate the Flores agreement  These violations included placing children in secure facilities when they are not escape risks or delinquents; commingling non-delinquent children with juvenile delinquents; excessive use of confinement, handcuffs and restraints; denying children adequate education; denying children psychological services; failing to explain legal proceedings to children; failing to provide medium secure facilities for non-delinquent children with special needs; failing to provide adequate access to telephones; and refusing to release children unless the children’s undocumented parents and relatives surrendered for removal.

This vulnerable population of children lacks access to administrative and judicial remedies.  The Center and the Rights of Immigrant and Refugee Minors Project, funded by the California State Bar, seek to address the special needs of these children by focusing on the administrative and judicial remedies available to them.  Remedies available to these children include Special Immigrant Juvenile status, Trafficking Visas, Orphan Adoption, Asylum, Self-Petitioning and Cancellation of Removal under the Violence Against Women Act, Family Based Petitions, and U-Visas. 

The Rights of Immigrant and Refugee Minors Project provides free trainings, technical assistance, materials, and advocacy support to IOLTA and EAF recipients.  If you are an IOLTA or EAF recipient please contact Andrea Fuentes, Legal Assistant at 213-388-8693 x 102 or afuentes@centerforhumanrights.org for assistance.